Fish bait or lure.



PATENTED DEC. 13, 1904.

I. D. RHODES.

FISH BAIT OR LUBE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, 1903,

N0 MODEL.

lgvljtcr Witgesses:

a W W UNITED STATES Patented December 13, 1904.

FRED D. RHODES, OF KALAMAZOO, lViICl-IIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERICK C.AUSTIN, OF CHICAGO, .lLLlNOlS.

FISiH HAN OH lLUF lE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,488, dated December13, 1904. Application filed Nove ber 2, 1903. Serial No. 179,521. (Nomodel.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED D. Rnonns, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of Kalamazoo, county of Kalamazoo, State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and use 'ful Improvements in FishBaits 0r Lures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fish baits or lures.

The objects of this invention are, first, to provide an improved fishbait or lure which is adapted for use as a surface or as a casting baitand also as a deep-water or as a trolling bait; second, to provide animproved fish bait or lure which may be readily adjusted to regulate thedepth at which the same shall run in the water; third, to provide animproved fish bait or lure adapted to'maintain its proper uprightposition in the water; fourth, to provide, in a fish bait or lure, animproved means of securing the hooks in position.

Further objects and objects relating to structural details willdefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

ll accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined, and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, in which--- Figure 1 is a side elevation view of myimproved fish bait or lure. Fig. 2 is a detail transverse sectional viewtaken on a line corresponding to line 2 2 of Fig. 1 looking in thedirection of the little arrows at the ends of the section-line. Fig. 3is a detail plan view of the guiding blade or fin D. Fig. t is a detailside elevation view of a modified construction. Fig. 5 is an invertedplan view of the structure appearing in Fig. 4.

In the drawings similar letters of reference refer to similar partsthroughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the body portion A of my improved bait orlure is preferably shaped like a minnow and may be suitably painted ordecorated, as desired. Ar- 5 ranged longitudinally through the bodyportion A, which is secured thereto. is a rod B. The front end of therod 18 is formed into a loop for convenience in attaching the line.

The tail or trailing hook F is secured to the rear end of the rod B..l.ransverse openings A are formed through the body, one for each pairof hooks which it is desired the body shall carry. These opel'iings areprovided with suitable metal soc.ket-rings, as clearly appears in Fig.2. A split ring (t is provided for each pair of hooks. (See Fig. By thismeans the hooks are detachably secured in position and may be readilychanged as desired or in case one should become broken 5 may be readilyrenewed. The shanks of the hooks rest on the edges oi the holes orsockets, so that the points of the hooks are supported out from the bodyin position to receive the strike of the fish. They are also supported 7so that the body of the minnow is not abraded by the friction of thehook-points against the same.

Suitable spinners (l are arranged on the rod B at the front and rear ofthe body A. These may be of the usual or any desired construction.

A guiding blade or [in l) is secured to the rod B at its forward end.This guiding blade or fin preferably consists of a central portion 30and a pair of rearwardly-extending wings and is preferably formed offlexible sheet metal adapted to be bent, so that the relative angle ofthe wings to the body or to the rod B may be varied. as is indicated indotted lines in 5 Fig. 1. The guiding blade or fin D is also adapted tokeep the bait in an upright position in the water and should the samestrike upon its side will turn the same to the upright position.

The depth at which the bait shall run in the water is regulated byvarying the angle of the guiding blade or fin. The greater the angle ofthe blade the deeper the bait will run in the water. It is found inpractice that with the biade set at a certain angle the bait willquickly dive to a certain depth and as it is drawn through the watermaintain about that position, with a slight up-and-down motion as it isdrawn through the water. I also provide a suitable weight-sinker G,which is secured to the bottom of the bait in the usual manner. Thebait, however, is entirely practical without this.

WVhen it is desired to use the bait as a surface or as a casting bait,the guiding blade or fin is bent until the wings are in alinement ornearly in alinement with the rod B, which causes the bait to ride uponthe surface of the water.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the guiding-blade issecured directly to the bait-body A. When used in this manner, asuitable slit, as a saw-kerf, is formed in the body and theguiding-blade D inserted and secured therein. This blade or fin D isalso made of some flexible material, so that it can be bent, asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4:, to regulate the depth at which thebait shall run.

With the parts arranged as described my improved bait or lure is adaptedfor use as a surface or as a casting bait and also as a deepwater or asa trolling bait. The guiding-blade may be readily adjusted to adapt thebait to any of the purposes named. A little experience will enable oneto make the proper adjustment for the purposes required.

If desired, one or both of the spinners may be omitted, although, ofcourse, the advantage thereof is removed. However, the guidingbladeserves to create a commotion in the water, which is found to be quitesatisfactory. 4

lVith the hooks arranged as described they may be quickly renewed asnecessary or are readily changed by the user. They are, as beforeremarked, supported so that the points are held away from the body ofthe bait in the proper position to receive the strike of the fish.

I have illustrated and described my improved bait or lure in detail inthe form preferred by me. I am aware, however, that it is capable ofconsiderable structural variation without departing from my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a bait or lure, the combination of a body having a transverseopening therethrough; a rod longitudinally arranged through said body; asplit ring on said rod arranged in said opening; a pair ofoppositely-arranged hooks on said ring; suitable spinners on said rod;and a guiding blade or fin formed of sheet metal, adapted to be bent,consisting of a central portion and rearwardly-extending wing portions,secured on said rod, all coacting for the purpose specified.

2. In a bait or lure, the combination of a body having a transverseopening therethrough; a rod longitudinally arranged through said body; asplit ring on said rod arranged in said opening; a pair ofoppositely-arranged hooks on said ring; and aguiding blade or fin,formed of sheet metal, adapted to be bent, consisting of a centralportion and rearwardly-extending wing portions secured on said rod, allcoacting for the purpose specified.

3. In a bait or lure,the combination of a body having a transverseopening therethrough; a rod longitudinally arranged through said body; asplit ring on said rod arranged in said opening; a pair ofoppositely-arranged hooks on said ring; and a guiding blade or finsecured on said rod, all coacting for the purpose specified.

4. In a bait or lure, the combination of a body; suitable hooks thereon;and a guiding blade or fin formed of sheet metal, adapted to be bent,consisting of a central portion and rearwardly-extending wing portions,for the purpose specified.

5. In a bait or lure, the combination of a body; suitable hooks thereon;and a guiding blade or fin formed of sheet metal, adapted to be bent,for the purpose specified.

6. In a bait or lure, the combination of a body; suitable hooks thereon;and a guiding blade or fin consisting of a central portion andrearwardly-extending wing portions, for the purpose specified.

7. In a bait or lure, the combination of a body; suitable hooks; and aguiding blade or fin formed of sheet metal adapted to be bent, for thepurpose specified.

8. In a bait or lure,the combination of a body having a transverseopening therethrough; a rod arranged transversely through said opening;a split ring on said rod arranged in said opening; and a pair ofoppositely-arranged hooks on said ring, for the purpose specified.

9. In a bait or lure,-the combination of a body having a transverseopening therethrough; a rod arranged transversely through said opening;and a hook secured thereto.

10. In a bait or lure, the combination of a body having a transverseopening therethrough; a rod arranged transversely through said opening;a split ring on said rod arranged in said opening; and a suitable hookon said ring, for the purpose specified.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presenceof two witnesses.

FRED D. RHODES. [1,. s]

Witnesses:

A. IRENE ADAMS, OTIS A. EARL.

IIO

